November 08, 2012

Phillies, Kevin Frandsen Agree to One-Year Contract

Kevin Frandsen was signed as a minor-leaguer in 2011 and never made it to the big club, instead playing in AAA while getting hit with a 50-game suspension for taking Adderall that was not cleared before use. In 2012 Frandsen appeared to be an after thought; despite all the Phillies' early injuries playing time went to Pete Orr and Michael Martinez. Frandsen shined for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and played his way onto the International League All-Star team. Finally, all the way at July 27th Frandsen got a chance and made the most of it.

Now, Frandsen appears to have a major league contract. Jon Heyman reports that the Phillies "did sign Frandsen. Frandsen was eligible for arbitration with the club, so he was not going to go anywhere, unless the Phillies declined to offer him a contract. Jerry Crasnick says the deal is for $850,000 with incentives that could bring the contract to $1.2 million.

Frandsen should be in the mix for some playing time, though it remains to be seen who the Phillies will open the season with at third base. My preference is that the Phillies sign a third baseman and make Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen the team's utlity infielders, replacing Michael Martinez and the parade of infielders the Phillies used last year including Ty Wigginton, Pete Orr, Mike Fontenot.

Still, it's possible Frandsen could start if the Phillies spend money on center field and left field, for a lack of better third base options. In this case he could be paired with a left-handed third baseman such as free agent Eric Chavez. (This idea must be good enough because after I posted it both We Should be GMs and Phillies Nation had the same idea without knowing I posted it - an honest to goodness coincidence).

No matter what role he is in, the journeyman has a guaranteed contract. Congratulations.